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Smoke Essentials
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Getting Started
- 3. Timeline Editing
- 4. Timeline Effects
- 5. Timeline Compositing
- 6. Action Compositing
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| Timeline Composite |
Published by: Training Post Production Team
Category: Compositing
Skill: Intermediate
Skill: Intermediate
Create a basic timeline composite by adding a graphical element on a new layer and a text effect. Tools used in this exercise: Text and Axis effects.
| Tutorial Steps | ||
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1. Add a timeline Text FX 2. Add a graphical element on a new layer 3. BONUS: Copy the effects to the second gladiator’s shot | ||
1. Add a timeline Text FX |
In this video:
Add a timeline Text effect
Edit the text
Add a text shadow
Video: Add a timeline Text effect (3:16)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
We will add the name of each gladiator on a shot. As well we will composite a graphical element on a new top layer.
To add a Text FX on a shot:
1. Continue with your timeline from the previous exercise.
2. Navigate to the shot “08_Tilt_Up_Left” on the timeline.
3. Click on the shot to select it.
4. Click on the Text FX button.
5. If you don’t see the Text FX, click and drag the EditDesk menu slider up.
6. Click the yellow (A) button to disable Autokey.
7. Click the (E) button to access the Text Editor.
8. Keep No Preview in the display option for faster interactivity.
Also, activate the grid to make sure your text will be inside the safe title area (for broadcasting):
1. Click on Grid.
2. Choose Safe Title under the Safe tab.
3. Press Exit Grid.
Add a text layer and change the font:
1. Click on the image to add a new text layer.
2. Notice that Edit is the default text mode.
3. Zoom out to see the entire picture by dragging the zoom field down.
4. Type the name of the talent: “Paul Alders”.
5. Click and drag to select the text or press ALT+A.
6. Click on the Font box to access the Font browser.
7. Select the LuxiSans font.
8. The default is Type1 font.
9. If you want to select another font, change the font type to Auto, navigate to the font folder and select it.
10. Then press Load.
Position the text:
1. Change the text size.
2. To change a tool value you can drag in the numerical field or, in this case click on the numerical field and use the calculator for precise values.
3. Change the text size to 80; click on the value to close the calculator.
4. Click and drag the text layer axis and position it on the right lower corner.
5. Click the Layer Position fields to set these values:
6. Set position X to 340, and position Y to -355.
Add a text shadow:
1. Activate the text shadow.
2. Set the shadow softness to 70.
3. Set the transparency to 50%.
4. Adjust the X & Y shadow position closer to the text. (x 1.00, Y -3.00)
5. Set the Kerning value to 2.
6. Exit back to the timeline
2. Add a graphical element on a new layer |
In this video:
Add a new timeline layer
Replace the segment with a logo
Add an Axis FX
Add a matte
Reposition the logo
Video: Add a graphical element on a new layer (3:22)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
The logo is a still frame with a matte.
1. Work with the Src/Rec player.
2. Make sure to deactivate Ripple to avoid rippling the track and changing the timeline sync when adding new elements.
3. Press the Layer+ button to add a new layer to the timeline.
4. The focus point which is the little cross bar on the positioner, is automatically moved to the top layer.
The focus point determines which layer is displayed in the player.
We want the logo element to have the same duration than the shot.
A way to achieve this, is to cut the empty layer at the proper length:
1. Make sure the shot is selected on the timeline.
2. Press ALT+B to cut the empty segment to the selection.
Now let’s add the logo:
1. Select the top segment on the timeline.
2. Expand the “Titling” folder.
3. Select the “DETROIT_LOGO” image.
4. Press the Replace operator located between the two players.
5. The 1-frame background is stretched to fill the duration of the segment.
Use an Axis FX to composite the logo on the timeline:
The Axis will allow a matte on the selected element as well as reposition controls.
1. Make sure the logo segment is selected on the top layer.
2. Click on the Axis FX button to activate it.
3. Click the (A) button to disable Autokey if it is active (yellow).
4. We could access the Axis editor but we don’t need to in this case; we will use the timeline controls instead.
5. Make sure the Axis button is selected to display its controls.
6. Click the Matte button.
7. And with the blue cursor, select the “DETROIT_LOGO_alpha” image in the source folder.
This applies the matte to the logo.
Reposition the logo:
1. Set the Pos X value to 180; click the numerical field and type the value on the calculator.
2. Set the Pos Y value to -425.
Add a shadow for the logo:
3. Press Surface and choose Shadow instead.
4. Turn the shadow On to activate it on the logo.
5. Add a bit of softness and adjust the position.
6. You can also adjust the transparency.
Process the effect:
1. Hit Process and this renders the top layer and everything below it.
2. Move the focus point up and down by dragging it to see the clips on the two separate layers.
Hotkeys are Page UP and Page Down.
| Tip |
Reminder: the hotkeys used in these tutorials are based on the Final Cut Pro user profile. Editing hotkeys are different if you have created a user with the smoke hotkey profile. Refer to the hotkey booklets available in the More Resource section.
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| Tip |
You can also display the safe title and action grids while in the timeline. Choose the Standard player in the Source Area Layout, Click on the Player Options tab and enable Overlays.
3. BONUS: Copy the effects to the second gladiator’s shot |
In this video:
Replace the second logo
Copy the Axis FX
Copy and modify the Text FX
Adjust the elements
Video: Copy the effects to the second gladiator’s shot (3:09)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
Add the Baltimore logo on top of the next shot:
1. Select the shot “09_Attack_LS_Right”.
2. Press ALT+B to cut the segment to the selection.
3. Select the top segment.
4. Select the Baltimore logo in the source folder.
5. Press Replace to replace the element in the timeline.
Copy the Axis FX:
1. Expand the track to see the clip information.
2. Hold CTRL and drag the Axis icon (AX) from the Detroit logo to the Baltimore logo segment on the timeline.
3. The Axis effect is copied.
4. Select the logo segment.
5. Change Shadow back to Surface in the Axis controls.
6. Click on Matte and choose “Baltimore_logo_alpha” in the EditDesk folders to apply the logo matte.
Copy the Text FX:
7. Expand the bottom track identifier.
8. Hold CTRL and drag the Text icon (TX) from the first shot to the next.
9. Select the shot number 09 on the bottom layer.
10. Access the Text editor by pressing (E).
11. Click on the text layer and change the name of the gladiator to “Rob Staudinger”.
12. Exit the Text module.
Adjust the elements of the second shot:
We want the text and logo to be on the left side on the image.
1. Select the logo segment on the top layer of the second shot; this gives access to the effects that were applied to it.
2. Select the Axis button to display the Axis controls.
3. Click and drag the Position X field to reposition the logo to the left side of the image.
4. Select the shot on the bottom layer.
5. But keep the focus point on the top layer to see the all the layers below in context.
6. Select the Text button to display the Text controls.
7. Click and drag the Position X field of the text to reposition it to the left side of the image.
8. You can select both top segments and process them for playback.
Save your timeline to the Library:
1. Select the record folder in the EditDesk folders.
2. Make sure that the “Smoke_Footage” library is selected in the Library box.
3. Press Save Selected.
4. Choose Replace to overwrite the previous saved timeline.
5. The Record Area is saved in the currently active Library.
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| Tip |
To delete an entire track; select it by clicking on the track selector button. Then drag it down to the recycle bin.
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| Tip |
Don’t forget to save your work at every important step as seen in previous exercises.
